A Night In The Quarter raises about $1M for the Children’s Museum of Houston

The Children’s Museum of Houston partied the night away at The Corinthian for this year’s Rue des Bourbon – A Night in the Quarter 2014 Gala, raising more than $900,000 from underwriting, big board and live auction. This exuberant event honoring Bourbon Street’s boisterous spirit was held on October 17th, and was inspired by the Big Easy’s joie de vivre.

Event chairs Kathryn and Jeff Smith and underwriting chairs Carmen and Butch Mach and Courtney and Bill Toomey, played host and invited Houston’s most generous leaders to jazz up the Museum’s educational and outreach programs. More than 600 guests ‘strolled’ through Vieux Carré’s most colorful street to become enraptured by stimulating tastes, sights and sounds, including a flamboyant procession by the Hustlers Brass Band featuring two umbrella-swaying Grand Masters, a dueling piano dinner show by Piano Punch, and dancing the night away to the E.L.S. Band.

Jackson & Company provided a multi-course menu of NOLA delicacies, such as crab cakes with a dollop of creole remoulade, Oysters Barataria, Voodoo shrimp, Turtle Sherry soup, Bourbon glazed beef short ribs, Bananas Foster and French chocolate cake desserts, and beignets and coffee. Hurricanes were served as the night’s signature cocktail and guests went home with a sweet treat, compliments of Sprinkles Cupcakes.

The live and big board auctions were led by auction chairs Elizabeth DeLuca, Robin Klaes and Kelly Sklar. Guests bid on exclusive packages, including a VIP Texans’ Road Game Experience (compliments of Tiffany and Rick Smith), which included flying with the team on the Texans’ chartered plane, riding on one of the team’s police escorted buses and staying in the team hotel. Other exquisite items included an Astros First Pitch Experience, attending the 69th Annual Tony Awards in New York City with Business/First Class travel for two provided by United Airlines – the official airline of the Children’s Museum of Houston, NYC Fashion Week passes with stay at the Mandarin Oriental, staying at any Starwood Resort in the world, a five-night Hawaiian vacation at the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villa, a custom designed jewelry piece from New Orleans’ designer Franco Valobra, and of course, a two-night New Orleans stay at the renowned Hotel Monteleone with dinner for two at the world famous Arnaud’s Restaurant.

At the top of the list of party-goers were: Melissa and Michael Mithoff, Laurie and Randy Allen (Children’s Museum of Houston Board President), Lisa and Josh Oren, Jennifer and Lance Gilliam, Katherine and Paul Murphy, Katie and AJ Brass, Stephanie and Ernie Cockrell, Shelley and Geoff Bracken, Leigh Anne and John Raymond, Krystal and Garrett Thompson, Tiffany and Rick Smith, Kathryn and Ian Fay, Liz and Tom Glanville, Ann and Tom Bastian, Dee Dee Guggenheim and Aaron Howes, Kim and Randy Petersen, Valeria and Martial Burguieres, Emily and Steve Dalicandro, Sharin and Larry Norman, and Allison and Hunt Harper.